The fourth player to join the Sharks from relegated London Welsh in the summer of 2013 (after Tom Arscott, Kirill Kulemin and Phil Mackenzie), Mills made 29 appearances in an impressive debut season. Able to play either as a lock or back-rower, he played 169 times for Welsh, the first four while on loan from Scarlets before his move was made permanent. Though captaining the side to relegation in his final season there, Mills was still voted the club’s Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and Supporters’ Player of the Year.

Sale Sharks beat Gloucester at the AJ Bell Stadium knowing the win would keep up the pressure on the leading pack and help keep the clubs hopes alive to earn a place in the elite European Competition next term.